Live in 2030:

Open for business

The city @ night

Sydney is open for business – in fact, we’re open til late! And, contrary to what you might have heard, the City of Sydney wants to expand Sydney’s nightlife.

We’ve been talking to the community out on the streets, at local forums and online and we’re hearing that people want everything when it comes to experiencing the city at night. They want to visit rooftop gardens, dine outdoors, go dancing, have a quiet drink, have a not-so-quiet drink, train at the gym, visit the library or a gallery, and even go shopping long after the sun has set.

We can make this happen but not straight away. There are other factors to consider, too – like the availability and regularity of late night transport, for example.

As you read this, we’re gathering all of your feedback and ideas together in a Night Time Policy that will soon be ready for you to comment on.

We got the ball rolling with an early Sydney 2030 initiative – making it easier to have that quiet drink by supporting small bars. It gives people more options for a night out already. We’re also looking at pop-up events, mobile food stalls, extended opening hours for cafes and galleries and more late-night shopping opportunities.

Don’t forget – the City also supports special events such as the Vivid Festival (which drew record crowds over the coldest winter ever!), the visiting Ice Bear sculpture, the Vogue Fashion Night Out and big ticket musicals including Mary Poppins and Hairspray. Plus our own annual events and festivals, like the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival and Art & About, all have night-time components for everyone.

Watch this short video to find out what other people are saying about Sydney @ night.

Towards 2030, we’re encouraging more people to visit the City @ night by: